Published: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 11:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 11:00 p.m.

LAKELAND | Keith Barefield returned to Southeastern University to become its head football coach on Tuesday, 37 years after he was a freshman student at the Christian college in Lakeland.

"I came back to roost,'' said Barefield, who transferred from Southeastern to Evangel University after his freshman year in 1975-76 because he wanted to play football.

"In an amazing irony, he left Southeastern because we didn't have football, to go play at Evangel. And one of the things that's come full-circle is he is now the first head football coach at Southeastern,'' Athletic Director Drew Watson said.

Southeastern doesn't kick off its first football season in NAIA until the fall of 2014, but Barefield is ready to hit the recruiting road and hopes to get commitments from 20-25 players on National Signing Day Feb. 1.

"By the time 2014 rolls around and we're playing our first game here at Southeastern, I guarantee you the excitement, the momentum we have built will come to a fever pitch and we'll be ready when it's time to kick off,'' said Barefield, who has a ready sense of humor and a booming voice.

"Are you ready for some football?'' Barefield shouted at the press conference on campus attended by Southeastern students.

"Whoop-Whoop,'' they responded.

Barefield, who celebrated his 57th birthday on Tuesday, hopes to recruit 50-60 players by the fall of 2013. Those players will be redshirted, giving them another year of eligibility, and become the foundation of the 2014 team.

A native of Eufaula, Ala., Barefield said he has been recruiting in Florida for 30 years. He will be scouting players this weekend at the 2012 FHSAA Football Finals in Orlando.

Barefield outlined what he has always looked for in prospective recruits.

"My mantra when I would go into a home or a school and sit down face to face with student-athletes is simply this: ‘I'm looking for three qualities in a young man. No. 1, a commitment to Christ. No. 2, a commitment in the classroom. And No. 3, a commitment to being a champion in competition,''' Barefield said.

He comes to Southeastern with a career record of 102-51-2 in more than 15 years. He was head football coach at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Okla., from 2007-2011 with a 36-18 record. He coached Evangel to a 66-33-2 record in 10 years, and was an assistant at Evangel for nine years after being the school's first fullback.

Watson said Barefield was the only candidate interviewed for the job.

"We knew Keith was our guy up front,'' he said.

"His championship experience, mixed with his experience at a Christian university that excelled at a high level,'' is what stood out to Watson, who liked Barefield's balanced approach between football and a strong ethic for education and impacting lives of young men.

"A lot of the time people feel like you have to sacrifice one for the other. You can be a character team, but you won't win any championships. You can be a championship team, you'll have bad character,'' Watson said. "I really believe we can do both. We were impressed with his pedigree in that area.''

Barefield, who worked at The Ledger as a sports correspondent in 1975-76 while a student at Southeastern, has two brothers who graduated from Southeastern.

Southeastern, which will compete in the Florida Sun Conference, will break ground on a 5,000-seat football stadium on its campus in May.

For information on Southeastern football, call the athletic department at 863-667-5046 or e-mail Barefield at Kbarefield@SEU.edu.

<p>LAKELAND | Keith Barefield returned to Southeastern University to become its head football coach on Tuesday, 37 years after he was a freshman student at the Christian college in Lakeland.</p><p>"I came back to roost,'' said Barefield, who transferred from Southeastern to Evangel University after his freshman year in 1975-76 because he wanted to play football.</p><p>"In an amazing irony, he left Southeastern because we didn't have football, to go play at Evangel. And one of the things that's come full-circle is he is now the first head football coach at Southeastern,'' Athletic Director Drew Watson said.</p><p>Southeastern doesn't kick off its first football season in NAIA until the fall of 2014, but Barefield is ready to hit the recruiting road and hopes to get commitments from 20-25 players on National Signing Day Feb. 1.</p><p>"By the time 2014 rolls around and we're playing our first game here at Southeastern, I guarantee you the excitement, the momentum we have built will come to a fever pitch and we'll be ready when it's time to kick off,'' said Barefield, who has a ready sense of humor and a booming voice.</p><p>"Are you ready for some football?'' Barefield shouted at the press conference on campus attended by Southeastern students.</p><p>"Whoop-Whoop,'' they responded.</p><p>Barefield, who celebrated his 57th birthday on Tuesday, hopes to recruit 50-60 players by the fall of 2013. Those players will be redshirted, giving them another year of eligibility, and become the foundation of the 2014 team.</p><p>A native of Eufaula, Ala., Barefield said he has been recruiting in Florida for 30 years. He will be scouting players this weekend at the 2012 FHSAA Football Finals in Orlando.</p><p>Barefield outlined what he has always looked for in prospective recruits.</p><p>"My mantra when I would go into a home or a school and sit down face to face with student-athletes is simply this: 'I'm looking for three qualities in a young man. No. 1, a commitment to Christ. No. 2, a commitment in the classroom. And No. 3, a commitment to being a champion in competition,''' Barefield said.</p><p>He comes to Southeastern with a career record of 102-51-2 in more than 15 years. He was head football coach at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Okla., from 2007-2011 with a 36-18 record. He coached Evangel to a 66-33-2 record in 10 years, and was an assistant at Evangel for nine years after being the school's first fullback.</p><p>Watson said Barefield was the only candidate interviewed for the job.</p><p>"We knew Keith was our guy up front,'' he said.</p><p>"His championship experience, mixed with his experience at a Christian university that excelled at a high level,'' is what stood out to Watson, who liked Barefield's balanced approach between football and a strong ethic for education and impacting lives of young men.</p><p>"A lot of the time people feel like you have to sacrifice one for the other. You can be a character team, but you won't win any championships. You can be a championship team, you'll have bad character,'' Watson said. "I really believe we can do both. We were impressed with his pedigree in that area.''</p><p>Barefield, who worked at The Ledger as a sports correspondent in 1975-76 while a student at Southeastern, has two brothers who graduated from Southeastern.</p><p>Southeastern, which will compete in the Florida Sun Conference, will break ground on a 5,000-seat football stadium on its campus in May.</p><p>For information on Southeastern football, call the athletic department at 863-667-5046 or e-mail Barefield at Kbarefield@SEU.edu.</p>